The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-02-05

1 na0 SettleQ myself cOmfOrtabl
in a seat by'a window, beside m
new, leather grip, had assured my
self that my money, route list
mileage book and accident ticke
were safe, had glanced furtively to
ward the reflection of my new sill
travelling cap and duster in a mir
ror, and the Buffalo sleeper wa
pulling out of the station.
"Think saw you at Brown 4
Jones' the other day, didn't L
Travel for them?" continued tn,
drummer.
To both the questions l an
swered "Yes," and l also had tt
acknowledge, when asked, that thi.
was my first trip. He was a good
looking gentlemanlike man of 81
or SO, with wide-awake gray eyes
long mustache and clean-shaven
chin. He might have passed fol
what he would upon the street, but
the well-worn cap and duster, the
umbrella and bundle of newspapers
strapped to the dingy gripsack, that
indescribable air of ease and famil-
iarity with which he glanced about
the car, were signs not to be mis-
taken.
Well, / was young and need not
despair. In time /, too, should be
u veteran.
Presently he spoke again:
"YOur name is Robinson, isn't
it? Thought so. / know your
brother very we'll. Met him in
Chicago last month";" and then,
leaning toward me, he whispered /:
Do you see that girl in the seat
behind me? Take a good look at
her; she'll leave the train soon, l
fancy"
Of course l had seen her. She
was one of the loveliest little crea-
lures / had ever laid eyes upon.
Quite young; not over 1S, l thought,
with slim, girlish figure and dark
hair, and great brown eyes with
long lashes and a complexion like
a rose leaf.
Had | seen her!
She was reading a book; twice
she had looked up, but meeting my
eyes hers had dropped again, and
| thought she had blushed ever so
And now that impertinent, mid
lle-aged drummer must turn i'm
his seat and stare at her point
blank while she read, until / felt
myself growing decidedly agry.
"What a sweet, demure little
hing it is" he whispered again,
urning to me with a rather queer
mile. "Too young to be travel
ng alone, eh?"
l was disgusted with him and
lidn't answer.
Lady in No. 8? Stopped off at
tewburg, SIR" was all that the por-
er could tell me when inquired a
title later, and the drummer smiled |
lis queer smile again.
81 thought So" he said.
A snug little party of six, all
men, of various ages
nd creeds, had been filling the
Oom with the smoke of many ci-
ars, good and bad, yarns had been
pun, pocket TASKS had been cir
ulated several times, and one after
mother the other men had slipped
way to their berths.
The drummer lit fresh cigar,
rossed his legs, and blew a wreath
f smoke, and winked one Of his
yes good humoredly.
II know what you're thinking
bout" he said. 81 don't wonder.
he is a good-looking young per-
IN. And how old would you take
er to be? Eighteen Hum !
Iell-perhaps. But Pm going to
IL you little story. I've never
Id it before. Yes, it's about HER
you needn't fidget."
Zone afternoon in January, over
vo years ago, l was waiting for a ,
ain in the Lehigh VALLEY depot at ,
'ilkesbarre. 1t had been showing I
ard and drifting all day, and the
ain was about an hour behind {
me, and l hadn't made single
lie in town, and the waiting room I
as cold as Greenland, and, alto |
'ther, l was in a very bad humor. c
)me one behind me asked if /
new when the train from Allen /
wn would come, and l answered s
city gruffly that | was sure that a
tell. But when / turned a
ound and caught the look in those s
70 big, soft eyes felt-well, felt t
if l had kicked a kitten-I 6
'edn't describe her. looks-they d
went changed in the least since f
u saw her this evening. Of s
urse l apologized then and ex- a
aimed that the train was overdue d
ID she thanked me quietly and g
alked away, but when, half an
'ur afterward, that young woman a
me through the crowded car look n
9 for a seat l confess ! was quite h
ntent to put my gripsack down y
tween my feet and make room Il
LII | Z